Imperial awards i.d.

[Gary B]

Top left Austrian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class

Bottom 2 are Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross (the Enlisted Pour le Merite) Early ones are made of gold. Later ones of silver. Look for silver markings. Again these are very rare and are faked.

Gary B

[VtwinVince]

The MMJO looks like a good copy, real ones are gold. The two MVK's are not award pieces. The ribbon on the MMJO looks like it has potential.

[Wartime Collectables]

Top right Military Order of Max Joseph. This is the Bavarian equivalent to the Pour le Merite and carried with it a non-hereditary Knighthood. See if there is a script number on the suspension loop. Close up pix will be needed on this to determine originality since these are heavily faked.
Gary B

Yes, looks like an italicized "10" inside the loop.

[Wartime Collectables]

Top left Austrian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class
Bottom 2 are Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross (the Enlisted Pour le Merite) Early ones are made of gold. Later ones of silver. Look for silver markings. Again these are very rare and are faked.
Gary B

Godet on ring of the silver one.

[Gary B]

Andrew,

If the Max order is original the number can be traced to the recipient. Early ones were numbered.

Gary B

[Wartime Collectables]

Andrew,
If the Max order is original the number can be traced to the recipient. Early ones were numbered.
Gary B

I found a couple comparable ones on line and believe it's original, but no clue how to trace. Numbered 10.

[ROBB]

The Austrian medal does have enamel damage on the rear bottom left corner which is a shame . Rob

[streptile]

The ribbon on the MMJO looks like it has potential.

I'm no MMJO expert but that ribbon is period, I agree.

[streptile]

Godet on ring of the silver one.

That is a postwar copy although you may find some people ready to dispute that conclusion.

The most anyone could reasonably argue about it is that it's an interwar display piece, although in my opinion it's from the 1960s or 1970s.

Same vintage as the Dead Eye PLMs in any case.

[Wartime Collectables]

That is a postwar copy although you may find some people ready to dispute that conclusion.
The most anyone could reasonably argue about it is that it's an interwar display piece, although in my opinion it's from the 1960s or 1970s.
Same vintage as the Dead Eye PLMs in any case.

Thanks. Gonna have to respect your opinion on these. Certainly out of my realm of experience!

[streptile]

Thanks. Gonna have to respect your opinion on these. Certainly out of my realm of experience!

If I were you I'd list it on eBay as a piece from an "unknown period of manufacture, marked on the ring GODET 938." Then people can make up their own minds.

If you say "made by Godet," you could be wrong. If you give a time period, you could be wrong.

It's a highly controversial mark, but believe me, you'll find someone who has studied it, thinks it's authentic and is willing to take a chance.

[streptile]

Bottom 2 are Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross (the Enlisted Pour le Merite) Early ones are made of gold. Later ones of silver. Look for silver markings. Again these are very rare and are faked.

One more thing: the silver piece is not a Golden Military Merit Cross (GMVK) but is called a Militär-Ehrenzeichen 1. Klasse (MEZ1) or Military Honor Decoration 1. Class. It was for the most part awarded for service in the colonies. Originals sell for somewhere in the neighborhood of $4K and are uncommon.

[Gary B]

One more thing: the silver piece is not a Golden Military Merit Cross (GMVK) but is called a Militär-Ehrenzeichen 1. Klasse (MEZ1) or Military Honor Decoration 1. Class. It was for the most part awarded for service in the colonies. Originals sell for somewhere in the neighborhood of $4K and are uncommon.

More info:

http://www.medalnet.net/Militaer_Ehrenzeichen.htm

Thanks for the correction/clarification, Streptile.

Gary B

[Wartime Collectables]

If I were you I'd list it on eBay as a piece from an "unknown period of manufacture, marked on the ring GODET 938." Then people can make up their own minds.
If you say "made by Godet," you could be wrong. If you give a time period, you could be wrong.
It's a highly controversial mark, but believe me, you'll find someone who has studied it, thinks it's authentic and is willing to take a chance.

And I thought the aviation badges were gonna be the tough ones!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/362541573275

[streptile]

More info:

http://www.medalnet.net/Militaer_Ehrenzeichen.htm

Thanks for the correction/clarification, Streptile.

Gary B

Here is an original MEZ1:

IMG_4923.jpg